Adult Protective Services

Any person may report that he or she believes that abuse or neglect has occurred against a person 60 years of age or older if the person is aware of facts or circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe or suspect that such has occurred. No person may be held civilly or criminally liable or be found guilty of unprofessional conduct for reporting in good faith under this section.

Types of Abuse
Abuse may include any of the following:

Physical Abuse: The willful infliction of physical pain, injury, or unreasonable confinement. It includes, but is not limited to, beating, choking or burning, inappropriate medication, or tying or locking a person up. It also includes sexual abuse, which occurs when a person has been forced, tricked, threatened, or otherwise coerced into sexual contact against their will.

Material Abuse: Sometimes called financial exploitation, is the misuse of an elder's money or property. It includes deception, diverting income, mismanagement of funds, and taking money or possessions against a person's will.

Neglect: This occurs when a caregiver's failure to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical, or dental care results in significant danger to the physical or mental health of an older person in his/her care.

Self-Neglect: This means a significant danger to an elder person's physical or mental health because the elder person is unable or fails to provide himself of herself with adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical, or dental care.